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Around a dozen farmers were invited to see the work in progress

A group of farmers has been allowed a glimpse of the new £7m Hereford Livestock Market.

Work started on the site just off the Roman Road, to the north-west of the city, six months ago with the complex set to open in the Spring.

Herefordshire Council leader Roger Phillips, who escorted the famers, said the work was "very much on plan".

The present city centre site will then be cleared to make way for regeneration projects.

'Excellent' facility

A group of a dozen farmers from the surrounding area were taken on a tour of the new development.

One of them Andrew Lloyd, said: "It's spot on, and just what we need for the future...it's excellent to have this facility on our doorstep."

The new market will contain a sheep ring and cattle ring, almost 350 parking spaces and nine lorry wash stations. In addition, there will be offices, a cafe, landscaped areas, a wildflower meadow and wildlife conservation area.

Mr Phillips said that building a new market was the most efficient way to progress.

He added: "The present market is beginning to look very sad and tired and would have needed considerable millions of investment anyway."

Planning proposals for work on the site of the present market are likely to be presented around March or April next year, with a hoped-for start date for work in Autumn 2011.